Letters to the Editor published in the Feb. 7, 2024 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
Note: The following is a paid letter, per policy.
To the Editor
The continued and uninterrupted operation of Pine Crest as a skilled nursing facility has been, and continues to be, the priority of your County Board. Previous efforts to change financial outcomes at the facility were not successful. Subsequently, an AD HOC Committee was formed to review Pine Crest’s history and determine how our goal of maintaining a skilled nursing facility in Merrill might be achieved.
The AD HOC Committee spent a year researching this issue, looking at successes, failures and options. All meetings were open to the public and an extensive report of their findings was provided to tax payers. Meeting details and the report can be found on the Lincoln County website.
After careful review of the findings, the Board contacted a broker to determine if there was a market for a skilled nursing facility, as selling Pine Crest to a private party with industry expertise is one of our options.
Another option was offered, a referendum to raise taxes in order to keep the facility County owned. In my opinion, a failed referendum would be disastrous for Pine Crest residents and staff. Nonetheless, these two choices emerged, were publicly debated, and voted on. The decision was made to seek a private buyer.
A brief history follows. In 2017, the Board borrowed $10 million to build a rehabilitation center to capture new revenue. It didn’t work and we still owe over $8 million. Next, the County Board contracted the management of care to NCHC. That didn’t work either; last year tax payers had to reimburse NCHC $1.1 million to cover operating deficits. Three years ago, the County Board gave up 40 bed licenses, out of the 160 owned, stating in Committee we (meaning Pine Crest) will never be that full again.
I asked the County Board to address this very difficult issue, and they have worked hard over the last two years, examining options and developing a plan to keep a high-quality skilled nursing facility in Merrill while ensuring tax payers are also regarded during the process. They have represented the people of Lincoln County in a professional and respectful manner throughout.
This is an emotional issue for many in our community. I am not sure what option the Board will choose, but I do know that someone will have to pay for the continued operation of Pine Crest and doing nothing is not an option. Together, we will continue to seek solutions to this and all the obstacles we face. It is our privilege to serve you.
Donald R. Friske
Chairman, Lincoln County Board of Supervisors
Why the rush to dispose of it?
On Jan. 27, 2023 my husband and I attended a non-partisan panel discussion on the proposed sale of county-owned, Pine Crest nursing home. It provided much information and first-hand testimony informing the public on the consequences of selling versus keeping the facility.
Financial data were provided that were not offered in Lincoln County’s Board of Supervisors earlier decision to sell to a private buyer. Specifically, that Pine Crest ended the year with net income due to improvements in the state’s Medicaid reimbursements.
Pine Crest is one of the few skilled staff nursing facilities in the county. It holds the highest five-star rating, and counter to local and national trends, has had a low employee turnover rate which translates to a better-than-average rate over infection control and overall health outcomes.
Heart-felt, first-hand accounts of care at Pine Crest were shared by residents and family members and former staff. My husband and I can confirm their positive nature due to our personal experience with a Tomahawk family member previously residing in Pine Crest. One of the medical professionals commented that nationally, public sector not-for-profit nursing homes give better care and that’s a good reason to stop the sale.
The county originally claimed that, if sold, Pine Crest could stay in business as a nursing home and its workers might see pay increases along with profits for the new (not local) owners. So far the county has not provided any working example of that outcome.
Realistically, when for-profit businesses take over that type of facility, they look to par down expenses in order to increase profits. One route is to decrease staffing levels, which equates to a decrease in quality of care, and another is to cut back on the numbers of less-profitable Medicaid patients. Currently, Pine Crest maintains the highest number of Medicaid patients in Lincoln County. If the facility is sold, where will those “excess” Medicaid recipients go?
The outlook can be very positive for maintaining Pine Crest as a locally-owned, financially stable facility, and ultimately for those of us who might need its services in the future. Why the rush to dispose of it?
Diana C. Smith
Tomahawk